When Men Cry (or, Boo Hoo Boehner)

If you were watching CNBC election coverage last night, you were treated to a tearful victory speech by Rep. John Boehner.

The dems and Nancy Pelosi are out and the new leadership is ready to take the helm. But wait… is that something in his throat? No! Rep. Boehner is all choked up! He's…. crying! Watch the video—the full lip quiver is about 6 minutes in.

I couldn’t help but think, what if Rep. Nancy Pelosi had cried when she was installed as Speaker of the House? The media / Republican punditry would have been merciless.

Just weeks ago, it was Rahm Emanuel shedding tears as he moved on from his job as White House Chief of Staff to campaigning for a new job as mayor of Chicago. Known as a pretty tough guy, it was an odd juxtaposition to watch him choke up and then wipe away an unseen tear.

And who could forget Governor Mark Sanford tearing up at his now infamous press conference in South Carolina. "I've let down a lot of people. That's the bottom line," Sanford said. "I've been unfaithful to my wife."

People remember when politicians cry — it’s real, it’s emotional. Several people including Greg Valliere, Chief Political Analyst at Potomac Research Group recalled Ed Muskie in 1972 crying in the snow in New Hampshire, then losing the Democratic primary for President of the United States. Greg says he was upset because a columnist criticized his wife.

“G.W. Bush would cry at a K mart opening, he was always crying.” added Greg. And “when Hillary cried during the primaries (also in NH), she was ripped — people said she was faking it. Definitely a double standard.”